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African press review 10 November 2015

There's a warning from Rwanda's President Paul Kagame about the possibility of genocide in neighbouring Burundi. Uganda continues to lead the charge against the US drug comlpanies at World Trade Talks in Switzerland. And does South Africa's Jacob Zuma need a new 30-seater jet?

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Regional paper The East African reports that Rwandan President Paul Kagame has implored neighbouring Burundi to avoid the ethnic violence that ended in genocide in his country in 1994.

Regional and world powers have grown increasingly concerned that the security situation in Burundi could lead to civil war or mass atrocities.

At least 200 people have died and tens of thousands have fled the country after months of violence and protests since President Pierre Nkurunziza declared he would seek a third term in office, winning a contested vote in July.

Kagame asks the neighbours to remember the tragic history of his own country and avoid making the same mistakes.

The East African also reports that Uganda is leading the world’s least developed countries in the ongoing showdown talks at the World Trade Organisation headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, where America remains the only powerful country still refusing to grant a permanent waiver on patents on medicines.

At issue is the impending closure, at the end of this year, of the 10-year window that the World Trade Organisation granted poor countries in 2006 to allow tham to continue manufacturing generic drugs using the intellectual property rights of established companies from the West.

Closing this window will return control of the global pharmaceutical industry to the developed world.

Slideshow Mandela

South African financial paper BusinessDay reports that President Jacob Zuma will ask the Department of Defence to explain reports that the department intends to procure a VIP private jet worth 260 million euros for him to use on his travels.

Reports suggests that Armscor is planning to buy Zuma a private jet, able to carry 30 people and fly long distances without refueling, complete with a conference room for eight, a bathroom and a bedroom suite.

While Zuma was away on an official visit to Germany on Monday, a statement on the presidency website said his officer would request information from the Department of Defence on the matter.

The statement went on to point out any aircraft purchased by the Department of Defence for use by the president and deputy president would belong to the state.

On BusinessDay's news analysis pages there's a story headlined "ANC may pay as drought withers black farmers’ dreams".

The article says the wealth of small-scale farmers and the dreams of emerging black commercial farmers are evaporating in South Africa’s worst drought in decades.

BusinessDay says the state’s response could be politically crucial, reminding readers that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) relies heavily on rural areas and that local elections are due next year.

Chinese companies plan to establish a new industrial park on the outskirts of the Zambian capital Lusaka with an initial investment of 250 million euros, according to a visiting company executive.

More than 30 Chinese companies will invest in areas including bicycle assembly, telecommunications and the manufacture of water pumps.

Zambia’s Commerce, Trade and Industry minister Margaret Mwanakatwe said the park would provide a further spur to Chinese investment in the southern African nation.

Chinese companies have invested heavily in mining and other sectors over the last 10 years with investment reaching two billion euros in 2014, according to the Chinese embassy.

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